Muhammad Ali

Profession: Heavyweight Boxing ChampionWhy Famous:Born Cassius Clay, Muhammed Ali was known as "The Greatest" and as one of the most famous athletes of the 20th Century.

Ali won his first heavyweight boxing title aged 22 against Sonny Liston and converted to the Nation of Islam shortly after, changing his name.

He refused to be drafted into the Vietnam War and was thus barred from fighting for nearly 4 years. On his return to boxing Ali won such memorable bouts as the 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" in Zaire and "The Thriller in Manila" in 1975.

He has described his boxing style as "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee".